---
title: 'Senior Mechanisms Engineer at Hermeus'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanisms-engineer-hermeus-los-angeles-9zmyzrvgtpgh'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-18'
---

# Senior Mechanisms Engineer at Hermeus

- **Company:** Hermeus
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Compensation:** $139k–$187k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-08-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-18
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/hermeus/672ff719-6150-497b-a33a-a3f8b7e6ff0e

## Job description

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

About The Role: Hermeus is seeking a Senior Mechanisms Engineer to join our Vehicle & Mechanisms Team. In this senior-level role, you will be responsible for designing and developing complex mechanical systems and mechanisms that are critical to the success of our high-speed aircraft projects.

## Responsibilities

- Mechanism Design:
- Lead the design and development of mechanical systems, mechanisms, and components for aerospace applications.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project requirements and objectives.
- Analysis and Simulation:
- Conduct detailed mechanical analysis, including stress analysis, fatigue, and kinematics to validate mechanism designs.
- Utilize simulation and modeling tools to optimize and refine designs.
- Prototyping and Testing:
- Oversee the prototyping and testing of mechanical systems and mechanisms to verify performance and reliability.
- Plan and execute tests, analyze results, and recommend improvements.
- Materials and Manufacturing:
- Select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes for components, considering performance, cost, and sustainability.
- Work with suppliers to ensure high-quality production.
- Documentation and Reporting:
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of design specifications, test results, and performance data.
- Generate reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaboration and Mentorship:
- Collaborate with junior engineers and provide guidance and mentorship to foster their professional growth.
- Foster teamwork and knowledge sharing within the Vehicle & Mechanisms Team.
- Innovation and Research:
- Stay current with industry advancements and emerging technologies in mechanical engineering.
- Contribute to research and development efforts aimed at pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology.

## Requirements

- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in mechanisms engineering, preferably in aerospace or a related industry.

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Strong knowledge of mechanical design principles, materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA) and simulation tools.
- Experience with FEA analysis and simulation software.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
- Project management experience is a plus.

The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs. At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team. Benefits: Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms

## U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

## EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

## #LI-JC3

## About Hermeus

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Hermeus is an aerospace and defense company building the world’s fastest aircraft through rapid iterative prototyping, targeting high-Mach and hypersonic flight for national security and commercial applications.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, ~$350M raised in latest round)
- **Headquarters**: Hawthorne, California, USA (primary HQ at 3401 Jack Northrop Ave; additional offices in Los Angeles/El Segundo, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Washington, D.C.)
- **Founded**: 2018
- **Founders**: AJ Piplica, Glenn Case, Skyler Shuford, Michael Smayda

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing; Defense Technology
- **Target customers**: B2G (primarily U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations), with future potential in commercial high-speed travel
- **Mission**: Build the world’s fastest aircraft by reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping, delivering high-speed systems that provide an asymmetric advantage for the nation and its allies.

## Products & Services
- **Quarterhorse Program**: A series of four purpose-built unmanned aircraft, each designed to unlock a specific technical challenge and incrementally de-risk hypersonic technology. The first aircraft flew in 2025, and the company reached supersonic flight just 364 days later—the fastest time from founding to supersonic flight in aviation history.
- **High-Speed Propulsion Systems**: Development of air-breathing engines, including testing at the High Enthalpy Airbreathing Test (HEAT) facility in Jacksonville, FL, using Pratt & Whitney F100 engines as a baseline.
- **Hypersonic Aircraft Platforms**: Future planned vehicles aimed at affordable, reusable hypersonic flight for defense and eventually commercial passengers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports; PitchBook lists latest Series C at $350M, total funding ~$566M)
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding ~$566M (9 rounds); Annual Revenue estimated at $5.6M (LinkedIn data, likely early-stage).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Sam Altman (led Series B), Khosla Ventures (led Seed), United States Air Force ($60M grant), NASA (Non-Equity Assistance), and other defense-focused investors.
- **Growth Signals**: 286 employees (+42% YoY); 122,889 LinkedIn followers (+58.2% yearly); rapid expansion from concept to supersonic flight in under 7 years; multiple open positions across engineering, manufacturing, and operations.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed of Iteration**: Hermeus is the fastest company in aviation history to go from founding to supersonic flight (364 days after first flight), using a hardware-rich, test-early approach reminiscent of the Skunk Works era.
- **First-Principles Engineering**: Small, cross-disciplinary teams that own problems end-to-end, enabling rapid decision-making and prototyping.
- **Government & Strategic Relationships**: Deep ties with DoD, USAF, and NASA, providing both funding and clear mission requirements.
- **Facilities & Infrastructure**: Four locations covering design, manufacturing, propulsion testing, and policy engagement, including a 110,000 sq ft facility in Atlanta and a dedicated test site in Jacksonville.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling the Quarterhorse program to achieve hypersonic flight; maturing engine and airframe integration; expanding manufacturing capacity; hiring top engineering and operations talent; deepening partnerships with defense customers.
- **Direction for growth**: Move from unmanned demonstrators to operational hypersonic aircraft for defense, and eventually develop a commercial high-speed air transport capability.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as "rapid, relentless iteration" with a "total disregard for what others say can't be done." Emphasizes extreme ownership, stubborn focus, and a small-team, high-impact environment.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: On-site roles required at Hawthorne (LA), Atlanta, Jacksonville, or D.C. (multiple open positions are on-site).
- **Notable Perks**:
  - 100% premium coverage for health, dental, and vision for employees and dependents
  - 3 months paid parental leave (100% pay) plus optional additional unpaid month
  - Stock options for all full-time offers with equity refresher program
  - 401k & retirement plans
  - Unlimited PTO for exempt employees (generous accrued PTO for non-exempt) plus 12 federal holidays
  - Free weekly lunches, dog-friendly offices, commuter benefits
- **Engineering Culture**: Hands-on, cross-functional teams; opportunities to work on flight hardware, propulsion, avionics, software, and test operations; fast promotion cycles for high performers.

## Sources
1. [Hermeus Careers](https://www.hermeus.com/careers)
2. [Hermeus Company Page](https://www.hermeus.com/company)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/hermeus)
4. [PitchBook Profile](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/267414-22)
5. [Lever Job Board](https://jobs.lever.co/hermeus)

## Other roles at Hermeus

- [Avionics Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-electrical-engineer-hermeus-los-angeles-4zejn6w966px) — Los Angeles, CA
- [RF Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/rf-systems-engineer-hermeus-atlanta-nhdshafjhpnb) — Atlanta, GA
- [Senior Avionics Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-avionics-electrical-engineer-hermeus-los-angeles-pq9qt7ewxmpt) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Senior/Principal Mission Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-mission-software-engineer-hermeus-atlanta-m0q5yhze2j2k) — Atlanta, GA
- [Senior Software Simulation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-simulation-engineer-hermeus-los-angeles-yptr4pphr7rz) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Senior RF Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-rf-systems-engineer-hermeus-atlanta-vx5fvfc69fdq) — Atlanta, GA
- [Senior Electrical Engineer - Power Electronics](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-electrical-engineer-power-electronics-hermeus-los-angeles-5vmycmmkehrq) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Flight Software Engineer – Command & Control](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-software-engineer-command-control-hermeus-atlanta-enxssy7wy71b) — Atlanta, GA
- [Senior Finance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-finance-manager-hermeus-los-angeles-891m1brh2n1s) — Los Angeles, CA
- [Sr IT Support Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-it-support-specialist-hermeus-atlanta-50r3738z6knn) — Atlanta, GA